(Motorsport) McLaren driver Daniel Ricciardo, who is set to leave the team at the end of the 2022 season is currently in talks with Mercedes and Red Bull Racing for a reserve role. The Australian has been linked with a number of teams at the lower half of the grid but has expressed that he would prefer joining a top team as a reserve driver for 2023 with the view of joining a strong team for the 2024 season. 

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff said “I think Daniel is speaking to a few teams about a potential role, also Red Bull. For us, we very much like him, he's a great character but we are not in a position yet to decide who is going to be our third driver.” When asked what the Australian can bring to the team, Wolff replied “Personality, and he's been around for a long time. He knows these cars inside out so that could be really advantageous. But I don't want to put any rumours out there because we haven't decided."

Ricciardo has endured a difficult time since he left Red Bull Racing in 2018, where he secured eight career wins. He spent two unsuccessful seasons at Renault before switching to McLaren but has been outperformed by teammate Lando Norris. However, Ricciardo managed the team’s only victory in recent years at the Italian Grand Prix last year and recently performed admirably in Mexico, finishing seventh despite receiving a 10 second penalty after causing a collision with Yuki Tsunoda. 

After the Mexican GP, Ricciardo said “I can confidently say that I won't be on the grid behind a wheel [next year]. But I still want to be in the sport, and I want to be working with a team still with the ambition to be back on the grid in 2024. I feel like a bit of time away from a race seat will do me good, and then try to rebuild on something for 2024. I'm not done but it will look a bit different."

Also read: Why Daniel Ricciardo shouldn’t take a break from Formula 1 in 2023